TARGETED Request for Proposals
MSM Initiative Community Awards - Africa
Deadline: Closed
Table of Contents
Available Funding
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is pleased to announce the availability of funding for small awards to support projects that address HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM). Frontline organizations and collaborations in Africa are encouraged to submit relevant proposals. Proposals for general operating support will not be considered.
amfAR's MSM Initiative seeks to fund innovative HIV/AIDS-related community-based projects that increase access to HIV/AIDS services among MSM. These may include direct health services (e.g., prevention, treatment, and care), policy-oriented projects, and/or research projects. Projects may include research or programming targeted towards reaching hidden MSM communities or MSM who do not identify as gay, working with more open GBT communities, and/or engaging allies. Emphasis will be placed on innovative approaches that are sustainable beyond amfAR funding, and projects that include (or have the potential to inform) regional or international advocacy activities. Demonstrated involvement of MSM in project design, development, implementation, and evaluation is highly recommended.
Individual organizations are eligible for awards of up to $15,000 USD.
Collaborations are eligible for awards of up to $30,000 USD. Please see the Eligibility and Qualifications section below for the Initiative’s definition of “collaboration.”
Only one application may be submitted per organization or collaboration.
It is anticipated that funding recommendations will be announced in February 2010. Organizations that are approved for awards can expect to receive funds to begin activities as early as March 2010.
BACK TO TOP
Definition of Terms
The MSM Initiative was founded and is administered by amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and benefits from collaboration with the Global Forum on MSM & HIV, UNAIDS, and many other partners. This round of funding for Africa is made possible through generous support from Aids Fonds Netherlands.
MSM is used to apply to an array of male-male sexual behaviors and identities, each with specific cultural contexts and with specific HIV risks, prevention strategies, and needs related to access and rights. The MSM Initiative is open to considering proposals that address HIV in the context of any of these behaviors or identities.
Addressing HIV among MSM includes planning and delivery of prevention, treatment, care, and support services, policy work, and observational, social, mental health, biomedical, and operational research. These projects will require an in-depth knowledge of MSM behaviors and identities, as well as a multifaceted approach to individual health, public health, and human rights, and to social and economic issues such as poverty, violence, homelessness, and discrimination.
Africa: This RFP seeks submissions from the more that 50 countries and dependencies of the African continent. However, it is anticipated that reviewers may prioritize applications from low-income countries/states, and/or countries/states that have high levels of HIV prevalence.
BACK TO TOP
Background and Areas of Interest
amfAR, in partnership with the Global Forum on MSM & HIV and UNAIDS, has identified three global objectives for the MSM Initiative:
- Supporting frontline organizations and collaborations working to address HIV among MSM;
- Supporting effective policies and increased public funding for HIV prevention and treatment efforts among MSM;
- Supporting research to build understanding of HIV epidemics and interventions among MSM.
The Initiative’s core program components are:
- Funding innovative projects that provide targeted support for MSM already infected or at risk for HIV;
- Advocacy and communications support at global, regional, and national levels to generate media attention, build public awareness, promote positive policy changes, and mobilize resources for programs that serve and improve conditions for MSM.
Intended outcomes of the MSM Initiative include:
- Prevention: including increased reports of safer sex and condom use among MSM;
- Health indicators: e.g., reduced HIV incidence and decreased morbidity among MSM due to HIV, STIs, TB, hepatitis, mental health issues, and substance use;
- Policy: including changes in funding, programs, program practices, policies, legislation, regulations, decisions, standards, and stated values related to HIV and MSM.
The MSM Initiative and its partners aim to support sustained programmatic efforts and therefore have an interest in supporting strong organizational management structures, individual leaders, and involvement of MSM communities and other constituents. The MSM Initiative will provide support for organizational development as long as this is project-related and linked to long-term goals related to MSM and HIV.
Further information about the MSM Initiative can be found at www.amfar.org/msm.
BACK TO TOP
Review Process
Funding recommendations are arrived at through community-based peer review involving technical experts who are also peers of the funding applicants in their general expertise, perspectives, and focus of work. Where possible, the MSM Initiative will provide awards in the context of partnerships that are already capable of offering ongoing training and technical assistance. The review process may include procedures by which select applications are prioritized for full discussion by the review panel. Applications from current MSM Initiative award recipients will be prioritized for review, especially when proposals build on accomplishments from previous years.
In making funding decisions, the MSM Initiative will advise peer reviewers to prioritize:
- Community-based efforts, meaning that the governance and leadership of these efforts should be strongly representative of the MSM populations that should benefit from funded activities;
- Organizations and collaborations with documented experience with MSM populations and/or successful HIV/AIDS interventions, research, and/or policy work.
BACK TO TOP
Eligibility and Qualifications
Awards will be made only to U.S. tax-exempt charity/nonprofit or foreign equivalent organizations. (e.g., registered NGOs, CBO’s, charities, and other frontline organizations formed for a charitable purpose, such as education or access to healthcare information and services) with demonstrated organizational capacity to carry out the proposed activities and effectively manage award funds. Proposals will not be accepted from governmental units or organizations, for-profit entities, individuals, or applicant organizations that do not meet the eligibility criteria identified above.
Partner Organizations
A partnership is a relationship between an eligible organization and one that is newly formed. Such partnerships allow organizations that would not otherwise meet the eligibility criteria to develop capacity and access funding for an approved project. Partner proposals should describe in detail all technical support the applicant will provide to the sponsored partner. Clearly delineate budgetary allocations between partners, and in the project narrative include the plan for the sponsoring partner’s oversight of expenditures and project implementation.
Collaborations
“Collaborations” are cooperative efforts between two or more separate organizations in multiple locations in Africa engaged in a single project or a set of clearly interrelated projects. The activities of each collaborator should be integral to and enhance the project as a whole. Each organization (the lead and collaborators) should have clearly defined and necessary roles in project development and implementation. Multiple locations of one single organization are not considered a collaboration. The MSM Initiative is especially interested in collaborations that are regional in nature, i.e., projects that engage MSM populations in different countries or significantly different regions/populations within a country. However, strong collaborations that are local in nature will also be considered. Proposals from collaborations should be submitted by a lead organization that meets the eligibility criteria outlined above and will take responsibility for disbursement of funds, project coordination, and reporting. Reviewers will be asked to determine whether or not all collaborators have clearly defined and necessary roles in the proposed project.
Previous Award Recipients
Organizations that received an MSM Initiative Community Award in previous funding years are eligible to submit an application for continued funding. Such applications will be competitively reviewed with new proposals and should include a summary of work completed and accomplishments achieved with funds from the initial award.
BACK TO TOP
Forms and Instructions
Please use the links below to download a copy of this RFP, the application form, and instructions. Please read the instructions thoroughly as they contain the information necessary for the proper preparation and submission of a proposal.
Applications may be submitted in English or French. For applications in a language other than English, amfAR requires that an English translation also be submitted, even an approximate translation such as one made using an internet translation engine. Both the original language and the translated versions will be provided to community peer reviewers.
Applicants are required to provide the names and contact information of at least three external (i.e., independent, non-interested) references. Letters of support or other attachments from references are not requested and should not be submitted. References may or may not be contacted as part of the proposal review.
Application forms (to be used by all applicants) / Formulaire (à être utilisé par tous les candidats) (DOC)
RFP (PDF)
RFP – Français (PDF)
Application instructions (PDF)
Instructions pour la soumission – Français (PDF)
Sample application (PDF)
Exemple du formulaire de candidature – Français (PDF)
BACK TO TOP
Application Submission
E-mail submission (preferred)
E-mail the completed application as an attachment to: msm.awards@amfar.org
Hard copy submission
Send by mail or courier to:
amfAR / MSM Initiative Community Awards
120 Wall Street, 13th Floor
New York, NY 10005-3908 USA
Please remember to mail or ship hard copy submissions with adequate time for delivery by deadline.
All applications (e-mail or hard copy) must be received no later than:
3 November 2009, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (GMT/UTC 22:00)
Deadlines are strictly observed. Applications that are received late, are incomplete, or exceed page limitations (see instructions) will not be reviewed. Proposals may include citations, listed references, and curricula vitae for key personnel. Web links to important documents and articles may be listed, but they should not be included as physical attachments.
Please e-mail msm.awards@amfar.org if you have questions about this RFP or the application requirements.
BACK TO TOP
Confidentiality, Transparency, and Communications
Throughout the review and award process, amfAR routinely respects the privacy of the applicant and endeavors to protect from disclosure any confidential or proprietary information contained in a submitted proposal.
Furthermore, the MSM Initiative recognizes that many organizations working to address HIV among MSM are doing this work in complex and sometimes volatile social, political, and legal contexts that require additional confidentiality. Groups that require additional protection of confidentiality, particularly due to security concerns, should indicate this need in the application for funding. In such instances we will inform reviewers that extra confidentiality is needed, and we will limit what we communicate about your organization with other funders, partners, or the public. Indicating that extra confidentiality is not needed means that we will maintain routine confidentiality about the funding proposal, but will feel free to communicate about the proposal and the organization to other funders and partners in the interest of mobilizing support.
While we will make every effort to maintain confidentiality in these situations, amfAR, the MSM Initiative, and its partners cannot guarantee complete confidentiality and/or be held liable for the disclosure of information that causes harm to individuals or groups associated with funded projects. Groups should be aware that any information provided carries the risk of being shared publicly through open dialogue about funding priorities, peer funding review processes, and communications about MSM Initiative directions, decisions, and reported outcomes. Submission of a funding application is deemed to indicate that applicants understand and accept these risks.
BACK TO TOP
Requirements and Restrictions
The MSM Initiative intends to encourage, support, and document activities of the highest quality. Therefore, all organizations funded by the MSM Initiative will be required to provide interim and year-end reports of program activities and expenditures. Where applicable, organizations should be ready to document appropriate financial and accounting controls, including measures to prevent duplicated use of funds. Any renewal of funding will be contingent upon the adequacy of this reporting. In addition, the MSM Initiative will work with partners within the region to be in contact with awardees, to monitor and document any needs for technical support and assistance, and if possible, to provide this support.
Funding for the MSM Initiative is made possible primarily through the private donations of individuals and philanthropic foundations. The MSM Initiative will report regularly to these funding partners about the use of funding and all supported organizations and activities (except where confidentiality is specifically requested).
BACK TO TOP